lisa morgan

That's some tough racing!  Unfortunately I don't know my final result because they got a bit mixed up and have me showing behind at least 2 girls that I passed, so hoping I can get that resolved.

Anyway, it was a truly whirlwind trip because I hadn't been able to hook up with anyone else who was going and had room for me.  So in my little rented car I headed of around 5:30am bound east for Baie St Paul.  The drive was easy going and most of it familiar territory from 2008 until I passed the turn off to Mont St Anne.  It was about 45 minutes east of that, and with about 1/2 an hour to go I started seeing snow on the ground at the side of the road!

When I arrived at the venue I got a bit worried I'd messed up my days because there were people everywhere, team sites all set up,  and a commentator announcing a race that was going on at the time.  Fortunately it was just the time trial event on the Saturday.  I picked up my plate and had about 2 1/2 hours before the course opened for training again so I grabbed some lunch, checked in to my accommodation and had a much needed nap.

I stayed at Belle Plage, an inn opposite the Baie St Paul marina about 3km from the event venue.  Unfortunately the restaurant wasn't open for dinner - unfortunate because it's supposed to be really good, but I made do with a trip to the supermarket (an easier experience than ordering Subway for lunch earlier in the day - my French, she is no better than the last time I was here)...

Despite the snow on the way up and the cold on Saturday, Sunday was pretty warm (up in the 20s).  My race was at 12 (staging at 11:35) and I managed to find some english speakers to feed me before I had to go and warm up.

I'd slept pretty well the night before and my warm up felt ok but I wasn't prepared for just how much the technical terrain would cost me in terms of speed and momentum.  I was called up about 4th to last (ranking based on Canada Cup from this and last year before UCI points from last then this year - I have none of the first 3...) so was in the back row of 26 riders.

The field spread out quickly off the start and it was dusty (not like Kamloops in 08, but noticeable) and I struggled to make up just 3or 4 spots in the first lap which was an all out, on the rivet experience.  In the 2nd lap I didn't make up more than a couple of spots either - it was a bit more settled but while the terrain was taking the sting out of my legs the guys were starting to lap us.  While they were great at passing it was still not good for the rhythm.

My 3rd lap was probably my best and I made up a good 4 or 5 places.  By the end of it my legs were starting to feel like I'd raced 4 laps at Mt Vic - on a course with less than 130m climbing!  The nature of the terrain and the course meant a lot of stop/start, repowering up, very short but very sharp climbs, and combined with the guys needing to get passed interrupting the flow even more it was hard work on the legs which were either fully on, or mostly on, but never really given a chance to recover.  Even the fire road was rough!

I was called in after my 4th of 5 laps - not under an 80% rule as that wasn't being applied, but because there was another race due to start and they had to clear the course.  From what I can tell I was the first rider pulled at that point and the recorded me as 5 laps which is what has caused the confusion.

I hung around and chatted to a few other riders, swapped some details (with a Kiwi based in the US), thanked my feeders Cody and Mark, and had the pleasure of having a chat with Emily Batty's mum - super nice lady, very friendly, and Emily is doing awesome in her final year of U23 over in Europe this season.

After that it was time for the long drive home and my first race was done, just like that!

Oh yeah, I picked up my helmet cam the day before I drove up and got some pretty cool footage which I will post up soon.